Making a determination that malpractice caused a birth injury is best left to experienced professionals. A skilled malpractice lawyer can examine your situation and tell you whether it is worth the time to bring a lawsuit for the injury your infant sustained and can advise you on filing before the statute of limitations runs out.
Some areas that can give rise to a birth injury caused by negligence include the following:
- Cesarean section — The failure to administer a cesarean section when the mother or infant is in distress can result in injury or trauma.
- Insufficient or incorrect pre-natal care — Failure to administer proper care such as certain screenings or blood tests during pregnancy can lead to an injury at birth.
- Very large baby — A baby who is too large will not be able to fit down the birth canal.
- Failure to act quickly —Infant bleeding, irregular heartbeat, distress, and umbilical cord issues are some emergencies that require prompt action.
- Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractor leading to brain damage
- Pitocin — The hormone Pitocin speeds up delivery and can cause birth injuries or trauma.
Common birth injuries that can occur due to physician or other health care provider errors include:
- Subconjunctival hemorrhage —The breakage of small blood vessels in the eyes of an infant
- Caput succedaneum — A severe swelling of the soft tissues of the scalp of an infant that occurs when the baby travels through the birth canal
- Brachial palsy
- Fractures of the clavicle or collarbone
- Cerebral palsy
- Erbs palsy
- Klumpke’s palsy
Always seek legal guidance if your baby is hurt through medical malpractice.
Dr. Michael M. Wilson is an attorney and a physician who earned his undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his legal and medical degrees from Georgetown University. He has focused in the area of medical malpractice for more than three decades and secured more than $100 million in settlements and verdicts on behalf of clients throughout the country. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and New York as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is listed in America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators.
